[Acute and chronic toxicities associated with the use and misuse of nitrous oxide: An update]

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is used since the eighteenth century as an anesthetic and analgesic but also for recreational use. If the labelled uses of N₂O and their modalities are nowadays perfectly framed, the misuse of N₂O takes very alarming proportions among teenagers and young adults. This misuse is the cause of acute (hypoxia, barotrauma, burns, neuropsychiatric disorders) and chronic complications if repeated (myeloneuropathy, anemia, thrombosis, inhalant use disorder). The main mechanism of the latter is mainly related to a functional deficit in vitamin B12 induced by N₂O. The management of acute complications is symptomatic. The management of chronic complications is based on vitamin B12 supplementation. The best biomarker of chronic N₂O exposure is the elevation of the plasmatic level of methylmalonic acid. In all cases of recreational misuses, addiction treatment is necessary to prevent complications or their worsening by providing information in order to stop consumption.

Keywords: Addiction; Misuse; Mésusage; N(2)O; N2O; Neuropathie; Neuropathy; Nitrous oxide; Protoxyde d’azote.